Illuminating-sign for automobiles.



H. A; MUELLER. YILLUMINATING SIGN FOR AU'lIOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 12,1912.

1 1,044,223, PatentedNmi; 12,1912.

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UNITED ST ES PATENT orrio l I-IENRY A. MOELLER, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

ILLUMINATING-SIGN FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

To all w7wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. MOELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful-Improvementsin Illuminating-Signs for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved indicator adapted for use at the rear, of autoy mobiles, to illuminate the registry car number thereof.

The invention consists of a casing to inclose a source of illumination and provided with an open front; a permanently secured frame back of'the open front 'of said casing a transparent'sigrf-plate to rest withinthe said frame, and a removable member for retaining said plate within the latter.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved indicator as for use on auto- I Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the indicator, showing an -incandescent lamp for illuminating its sign.

Fig. 3 is a similar View, showing a gas burner applied to the indicator, and the sign removed fro-m the latter. Fig. A: is a perspective view of a retainer member for holding the sign within its support, and, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a transparent sign for the indicator.

In carrying out my invention I employ a.

rectangular case -a-, designed to extend horizontally, having a front -.a back a bottom a and ends -'a*-, a*-. The front a?- is provided with a leotangular opening -a, which is surrounded by a frame a-, to act as a support for the sign. This frame a is composed ofangle pieces, which are L-shaped 1n crosssection, as at .-.a --'in Fig. 3, .and are secured by solder to the inner face of the front a and extend around the vertical sides and bottom of its opening ---a-, in order to provide anentering passage -a to receive the sign.

The sign, designated by reference letter --b as a whole in. Fig. 5, is of red glass and having ordinals and capital letters painted thereon, as shown, to form. a mg I Application filed March 12, 1912. Serial No. 683,223.

istry number for the car to which the indicator is to be attached, and this sign plate has its edge surrounded by a yielding strip, preferably rubber, as b, to rest against the bottom of the frame-passage -a After the sign is mounted within the frame -a a retainer member a-- (see. Fig.4) is employed to hold the 'si in place, and said member, which is constructed from an angle piece to conform with the other stated frame portions,'has upwardly-turned ends a a provided with fixed pintles -a awhich,' when. 'said memberls sprung, enter perforations grooves formed in the ends of said case, as at -l;

a point -a in Fig. 3, and this cover has a fixed spring leaf provided with an indent, as e', to sna within and hold said cover in a closed positlon against the inner face of the back a of said case,"in. the manner shown in Fig. 2. 1

' In cases wherein the car is equipped with a gas storage tank,-. I provide the indicator with a gas burner, as..-f--, for giving illumination to the Si -b, and said burner is centrally secured to the bottom of.

the case -wand has its common nozzle "f projecting therefrom, as shown, for

attaching a flexible tube connection --g, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, for leadingtothe gas storage tank.

In the use of gas to illuminate the sign,

the case is provided with cold air perfora-' tions'form'ed in its bottom, as at a in Fig. {5, and a ventilator is provided on glie cover for the escape of hot air.

' n the back of the indicator, as described,

is secured a yoke or saddle member lzhaving a screwthreaded opening in its bottom to receive a set-screw z, whereby the indicator is held firmly in position upon the j, common fixed arm at the rear of the power is carried by the car, to illuminate back of its sign b, and the latter being removable its frame construction allows of ready replacement of a new sign in case of breakage of the glass.

It is therefore evident that by my construction and arrangement of parts i provide an indicator that contains in itself all that is necessary to permit receiving electric current or gas, through the agency .or source of supply installed on the car, to keep its sign illuminated so that the registry number on the latter may be plainly seen, and

thereby render easy the identification of owner of the car Whenever occasion would demand.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is i In an indicator for automobiles, the combination with a source of illumination, of a casing to inclose the source of illumination and having an open front and said casing provided with oppositely-arranged perforations; a permanently secured frame back of the open front of said casing and having an opening at the top; a transparent sign-plate to rest Within the said frame, a removable member for retaining said plate in position Within the said frame and having pintles to enter the perforations of the said casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY A. LIOELLER.

Witnesses:

PETER C. CANNON, C. T. I-IANNIGAN. 

